Super Bowl Week

Seeing how the most important Christian week begins

04/14/2025

John 12:1-11 Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served, while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him. Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair; the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. Then Judas the Iscariot, one of his disciples, and the one who would betray him, said, "Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days' wages and given to the poor?" He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief and held the money bag and used to steal the contributions. So Jesus said, "Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me."

This morning I would like to share three random but hopefully relevant reflections as we launch upon Holy Week. Of course, you know this week is like the Super Bowl for Christians because we celebrate the central mysteries of our salvation. Just like the Super Bowl is a mighty contest of skill, brute force, and sheer determination, so our Lord goes tet-a-tet against the Evil One.

And in the end there will be a winner and a loser. In this supernatural Super Bowl of life versus death, the Lord of life wins precisely by first dying. And the Victor will not raise the Lombardi Trophy but the Cross as the symbol of his championship.

Monday of this Super Bowl week begins with all the priests of our diocese gathering at the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Little Rock for a day of recollection. It will be led by Bishop Erik Pohlmeier, my old friend. You may remember Bishop Pohlmeier in his previous life was a priest of our diocese.

Today, he is the bishop of St. Augustine in Florida, a successor of the apostles, a prince of the Church, and he will preach to the shepherds (us priests), as we renew our priestly vows at Mass this evening. Pray for him, pray for all bishops.

This evening’s Mass at the Cathedral is called the Chrism Mass. Why? Well all the priests bring their old oil stocks to be filled with freshly blessed oils, which Bishop Taylor will do. You can see our ambry which holds the oils sits empty right now. We use three different oils throughout the year.

First, Oleo Sancto (Holy Oil) is used to anoint babies before Baptism, also called Oleo Catecumenorum (the oil of catechumens). Babies are miniature catechumens who go through a crash course in OCIA before Baptism, and that crash course is symbolized by the Oleo Sancto.

Second, Oleo Infirmorum (the oil of the sick) used to anoint those who are sick or dying. When I anoint you in the hospital or at home, or in hospice, the oil I use us blessed on Monday of Super Bowl week, because in illness (and death), you also enter that mighty contest of life versus death. And eventually, you and I must imitate our Savior and die in order to live. That is, this oil prepares us to die to this world so we can rise in the next.

Third, Sacrum Chrisma (Sacred Chrism), and this is the principal oil and from which the Chrism Mass derives its name. Chrism is also where we get the name of Christ: Chrism – Christ, and it means “Anointed One.” Therefore, we use this Sacred Chrism for Baptism, Confirmation, and of course, in Holy Orders, but only for priests and bishops, but not for deacons.

And my third random but relevant reflection this morning is how fitting the gospel is for this week and for this parish of I.C. What do I mean? Well, in John 12, Jesus beings the first holy week with a little rest and relaxation at the home of his good friends, Martha, Mary, and Lazarus.

You may recall that Jesus had just raised Lazarus from the dead in the last chapter (Jn 11). And how perfect that an oil is introduced in this scene and used to anoint our Lord. It seems to be a precursor of the oleo infirmorum (oil of the sick and dying) because Jesus indicates: “Let [Mary] keep this oil for the day of my burial.”

In other words, our Captain Christ’s sacred Body is prepared for his stupendous contest of life versus death, where he will conquer death precisely by dying. And one day, please God, so will we and therefore we too must be anointed when our last holy week arrives.

And this gospel is also pertinent for our parish of I.C. because we have spent a lot of money to build a back altar – technically called an altar of repose – for Jesus. Some people may object like Judas and say that money could have been spent on the poor. Don't worry we generously care for the poor.

But let us listen attentively to Jesus who said, “You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.” We imitate Martha, Mary, and Lazarus by building an altar of repose and rest for Jesus to catch his breath as he begins Holy Week. Everyone needs a little rest before Super Bowl Sunday.

Praised be Jesus Christ!